Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-01-07

The majority of New England readers
have been schooled in the orthodox high
tariff catechism and will hardly agree with
the writer of the following article from the
American Cultivator so far as he is skepti-
cal on the question of protection. 1t IS
well, however, to look at both sides and the
article contains some hints to farmers that
may he read with profit Its author is
resident of Kennebec county, Ne:
I'm every large village in Maine the Chi
cago beef rules the market Oeomnrgarine
fixes the price Of butter. New York and
Vermont furnish the bulk of our cheese.
Aroostook county establishes the price of
potatoes England strives to establish the
price of all our food products, from Bald
win apple to a 30O0-pound steer. European
paupers do the work for the want of which
many of our people grow hungry or are
driven to work upon the land while every
thing they produce must be sold upon an
apparently overcrowded market.
"As my individual opinion, high proter-
tive duties for manufacturers render for
eigners unable to manufacture our goods at
home hence all our manufacturing estab-
lishments, large and small, are run by IN
ported labor, which comes free of duty
Thus the sturdy yeomaurv, which always
has been. is now and always will be the
strength and support of our country, is driv-
en- to compete with rivals ON every hand.
Do not imagine that l am on political ram
page, for nothing is further from my pur-
pose | simply speak of facts as they ap-
pear to me, leaving the thoughtful reader to
apply the logic. 1t is best to have both
sides fairly stated
I'VE find things as they exist, and must
conform to CircumStances-acC the stu
alton. What shall We do. IT seems to me
that our efforts should he in the direction
of cheaper production. We are here on
our farms. and from them we must, in the
main, obtain our bread and butter. IL the
Western steer establishes the price of the
Eastern animal. then we must learn to prof
itably meet the market Winter is just
upon us. Today, while | write, we have
some six inches of snow upon the ground,
and soon will have zero weather. Stock
cannot he proftably wintered where the
manure freezes behind them, or where they
must lie in wet and filth. All live stock
must be kept dry and warm, with aS little
exercise as possible. See that each animal
has an abundance of food, and that one does
not rob the other. See to it that each one
has all the clean water he will drink every
day. Go to the trough with each one. and
see that he has a fair chance.
"Keep the doors and windows closed III
cold weather Do not be scared by those
impractical men who spread themselves on
paper concerning the Importance of well
ventilated barns Keep the cattle, horses
and hogs warm. Keep the sheep dry anC
the orts out of the crib. Give all stock
what salt they will eat Keep off the lice
and keep away from the barn while tn,
stock is fasting 1t is possible, with all the
conditions favorable, to save onc-quartel
the feed, both of hay and grain, over thai
which is consumed by the careless feeder
One man may sell his steers for 5000, anC
yet make IA loss, while another more careful
farmer may sell his steers at $50 and yet
secure a profit
1T is not the gross amount we receive
that decides our profits and our success bu
it is the dollars and cents of actual gain tina
benefit the farmer. The man with manur,
sheds and absorbents will, in a lifetime. saw,
"A fortune over the one who permits hi
stock to lie in filth and throws the manure
under the ewes of the barn to leach and 81
lessen in value. In warm well-arrange,
barn it is less work to care for the stock
and takes less time, than in one less favora
bly, arranged.
"The more manure is made upon a farm
the cheaper hay can be produced. Chea
hay makes high farming, Again, to pre-
duce cheap grain, we must have clean field
and do more with horse power and less wit
man power Going over each hill of poti
toes twice with a hand hoe, and over eac
hill of corn three times, does not pay
these modern days Use "A jointer pillow
harrow thoroughly, have the rows straigh
cultivate the ground until entirely mellow
run a horse hoe with a steady team aud III
farmer will find that hard work may Ice yer
nearly dispensed with
"When the corn is well glazed, gather
off, place it in the crib then cut up an
put in the sio the fodder Under the,
conditions, corn-growing ON the Kennel,
is better than corn-buying in Kansas. 4
soon as the fodder is off, pillow the Ian,
spread and harrow the manure, and sow ,
soon as possible in the spring with two-row,
barley Grind with ears of corn for COW
and beef oxen; add one-quarter cotton sec
meal, and | believe the cost of feed is tn,
reduced to the minimum